Prof. Sunaina Singh

Vice Chancellor,Nalanda UniversityRajgir, Bihar- 803116

( 15 May 2017 )

&

(2016 )

Former Vice Chancellor (2012-17)The English and Foreign LanguagesUniversity
Hyderabad-Shillong- Lucknow

As the Vice-Chancellor of Nalanda University, Professor Sunaina Singh is among the most
prominent leaders of higher education in the South Asian region. She has also held the chair of
Vice Chancellor of The English and Foreign Languages University for five years before her
current assignment.

A distinguished academician and administrator, she currently also holds the position of the Vice
President, Indian Council for Cultural Relations. She has the distinction of being the first Indian
woman to head, as the President of the Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute, a bi-national Research
Institution with headquarters in New Delhi and Calgary under the MHRD and Canadian
Government.

Prof Singh brings with her a rich blend of scholarship, professional integrity, and administrative competence. Her impeccable and proven track record as an able and a visionary administrator has enabled her to excel in her leadership role. Some of the prestigious awards are:

Certificate of International Leadership from National College, Nottingham, U.K. (2013)

Prof. Singh was nominated by ICCR in 2010 to the India Studies National Chair at Shanghai University, China. In 2005, she received the Postdoctoral Faculty Research Award from the Department of Foreign Affairs, Canada, and in 1984, the Commonwealth Academic Staff Scholarship Award. Currently, a member-designate of several distinguished national and international Academic committees, Prof. Singh is engaged in the challenging task of restructuring and redesigning university pedagogical and administrative systems.

As the Vice Chancellor of English and Foreign Languages University between 2012 to 2017, Prof. Singh played a dynamic role in streamlining the administration, reinvigorating and restructuring the academic culture, and bringing about transparency and accountability into the system. These crucial interventions have helped the University steer forward and assert itself as an important institution of higher learning in the Asian region. It is widely accepted that the University has emerged out of a critical period in its history largely because of her determined and compelling leadership.

During her tenure as President of the Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute (a Bi-National Institution), between 2009 and 2011, Prof. Singh launched path-breaking initiatives that heralded a new vision and outlook for this international organization. As an acknowledgement of her outstanding contribution to the area of bilateral collaboration in education, she was invited to participate in the closed-door Educational Round-table with the then Honourable Prime Minister of Canada, Mr. Stephen Harper, in 2009. She was also honoured with a citation by the India-Canada Chamber of Commerce (ICCC), Calgary, for her contribution and initiatives in strengthening bilateral ties and collaboration in higher education, in 2011

An acclaimed Professor of Comparative Literature and Culture, Prof. Singh presents a rare blend of excellence in the area of higher education. In both her roles, as an academic and as an administrator, her focus has always been on quality. Few academics can match her integrity, intellectual caliber, and dedication to teaching, research, and administration. As a Visiting Professor at reputed Universities abroad, she has played a crucial role in drawing the attention of the West towards Indian culture and literature, pedagogical systems, epistemological concerns, and, of course, university administration.

Inspired by her pioneering work and her innate compassion a group of citizens have established a foundation in her name. The Prof. Sunaina Singh Foundation, set up in Hyderabad in March 2015, is driven by her vision of building a better society through the education of girl child from the deprived and marginalized sections of society. Nearly 70 girls have been funded for their education by this foundation so far.

An acclaimed scholar, accomplished teacher, Prof. Sunaina Singh has always believed in, and has worked towards setting new benchmarks in both the personal and public spheres. As a dynamic leader, she touches many hearts and inspires many minds. She is widely known for her leadership and integrity.